(or [ ˧ ], according to the preceding tone) an emphatic particle, added e.g. to greetings;

koyɔ o [ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] hullo!

(as reply, or used when at a distance from the addressed).

a pattern similar to a chain;

oba n-uɽi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “two hundred oba”: two chains interwoven.

paddle.

side of abdomen;

cf. ɛko [ ˩ \ ].

track cut through the bush with a matchet, not cleaned;

mostly a casual track not destined to be used as a path.

Once a track is cleared, it is an odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

poison.

a snake;

striped and shining like velvet, very beautiful;

harmless;

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

throwing-net (for fish);

cf. Jekri obiriki [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

a timber tree, two kinds: the white Obobo: obobo nɔfua [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]: Guarea Kennedyi;

and the black: obobo nexwi [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] G. thompsonii.

a food: cooked yam, mashed with oil.

flower.

turning rapidly round in dancing, pirouette;

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) arm, hand.

(2) side;

ob-erha [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “father-hand”: right-hand side;

ob-erh-ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ] a man’s right-hand side, v. odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ];

ob-iye [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “mother-hand”: left-hand side;

hence also: ob-ɔkpa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] one way.

(3) from (with eʋ- 1), e.g. ɔd-ɔe ʋ-obɔ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “he bought it in my hand”: from me.

(4) handle, in ob-ikɛkɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] handle of a bicycle.

(5) “the hand” as a force that is worshipped;

v. ikɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ];

(6) title of a chief who represents the Ɔba’s Obɔ (in the sense described under 5);

one of the “body-titles” (egi-egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ]);

cf. abɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

quickness;

alertness;

obɔkɛʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ ʋ-eʋ̃i n-aɽu yɛ ʋ̃ɛ nɛ gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ (3-1) ˥ ] “his quickness in doing things pleases me much in him (nɛ [ \ ])”;

cf. obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ], kɛe 2 [ / ].

clay from river bank, used by potters, and by blacksmiths to build funnels for their bellows.

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ] odã [ ˥ ˥ ], and idãw-ɛsĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ].

The original meaning seems to be “heel”.

senior;

grand-, in names of relationship, v. iye [ ˥ ˥ ] and erha [ ˥ ˥ ];

oded-ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] senior of the Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ]-society;

v. ekeze [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], iye [ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) general term for way, road.

(2) a cleared bushpath;

od-abɔtɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] a short-cut not known to the public;

od-ɔfiãmu [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] short way (general term);

cf. fiã [ ˥ ], mu [ ˥ ];

v. okuo [ ˩ \ ];

od-oɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] entrance to the compound (from the street);

v. obɛlɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], ukpo [ ˥ ˩ ], fiã [ ˥ ].

(3) manner of doing something;

odɛ n-iɽ̃ã ɽu‿ɛe la ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “the way they do it (pass) is this”: that is how they do it.

(4) (with following genitives denoting locality), expands the area referred to by the following genitive, making the precise significance into something more vague.

od-aɽo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] in front, ahead;

in front of.

od-iyeke [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] at the back;

behind;

od-iyek-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] behind the house.

od-ob-erha [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] the right side;

la ɣ-od-ob-erha‿a (ɣe [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] go to the right (“way of hand of your father”).

od-uxuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] upwards;

above;

od-uxuʋ̃-ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ] above it.

od-ɔwaɽa [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] straight on, used metaphorically in od-ɔwaɽa eɽ-ɔguã‿ɛ̃ʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ la [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ] “straight on it is (that) he is talking his word pass”: he is talking in simple, plain words.

Expressions of a more specified meaning: od-uw-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] (uwu [ ˥ ˥ ]) inner apartments of a house where guests do not usually enter, i.e. the last ikũ [ ˩ \ ] and its uɣuɣa [ ˥ \ ˩ ] and ɔgwa [ ˩ ˥ ].

od-ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] women’s apartment in a house, harem (ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] alone usually means “Ɔba’s harem”).

(1) wall round compound in houses of the old type, (new houses opening directly on the street).

(2) room between compound wall and buildings.

(3) neighbourhood, district: cf. Yor. odĩ [ ˧ ˧ ].

a deep spot in a river.

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (o.c.c.o.);

of Yor. origin?

deaf and dumb person;

cf. Yor. odĩ [ ˥ ˥ ].

favourite servant who knows all the secrets of his master.

(1) broad coral collar worn by the Ɔba and some chiefs;

often seen in brass-work;

e.g. L.R. p. 23.

(2) appellative for a pig’s neck.

(1) natural pond or lake as caused by a river (e.g. at Ɔbajere, Iyanɔmɔ, Udo and Aɽinya [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]);

v. ɔɣɔdɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(2) an ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ] near Udo [ ˩ ˥ ].

sacrificial killer (beheading at human sacrifices in the old days);

cf. ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ].

(wooden) mortar;

cf. Yor. odo [ ˧ ˥ ].

(1) mangrove, Afzelia bipindensis;

also called odo n-inia [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “the root mangrove”, from its many long roots;

odo n-ɔwɛe [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] “the male mangrove” is Rhizophora racemosa, with stronger wood.

(2) sort of potash (stronger than ikaũ [ ˩ ˥ ]);

obtained from the wood of the mangrove by cooking it and leaving the water to evaporate on the fire;

used to thicken soups (owo [ ˩ ˥ ]), and also in the preparation of medicines.

a disease: probably ascites.

scarlet-cloth;

cf. Yor. ododo [ ˩ ˩ / ].

name of a masquerade held during agwɛ‿ɔɣɛnɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

the masquerade is also called ɛɽiʋ̃i‿ododua [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ / \ ];

cf. Yor. Odudua [ ˧ / ˥ ˩ ] and Bini Oɣodua [ ˥ ˩ \ ].

there (further away than eʋa [ ˩ \ ], and less distinct);

iɽ̃ã r-odɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] they are there;

deɣ-odɔ hia ma [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] is everything all right there?

(lit. “all the there”).

(1) froth coming out of children’s or sick people’s mouths.

(2) caul.

a children’s disease: spasms;

odudu was stated to be a witches’ name because they are as merciless as the disease.

hyena (probably);

not native to Benin, but occasionally shown round by northern (Nupe) people.

Said to knock a man down with its fist (!), and to restore him to life by a second blow.

rat;

mouse;

cf. Yor. ɔfɔ̃ [ ˩ / ].

yaws.

palm-oil;

ofigbɔ̃-ɽ-ima dɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] it is palm-oil we are buying.

prefix used in the formation of ordinal numerals, with the exception of okao [ ˩ ˩ ] “first”, e.g. ogieva [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (a) second;

(b) companion;

playmate;

colleague;

somebody living at the same house (as a term of address, oko [ ˩ ˥ ] is used);

ogieha [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] third;

ogigbe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] tenth, also ukpogieva [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] etc.

a creeper, Citrullus vulgaris;

its fruit;

it produces seeds which are used as ingredients of eʋ-ariɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “native butter”.

(1) a chief who probably is the descendant of a dynasty ruling in Benin before the present one.

(2) a sib;

its senior is the chief bearing the same title;

its centre is in Benin City on the left side of Sakpoba Road;

the sib is said to be big and scattered everwhere;

its greeting is la‿ɛrɛe [ ˥ ˩ \ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ], Ubi [ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) name of a village situated on the Siluko Road.

(2) help in childbirth;

often given by inhabitants of the above-mentioned village, though nowadays it is no longer their special task.

a drum (similar to oxa [ ˩ ˩ ]);

cf. Yor. ogidigbo [ ˩ ˩ ˧ ˥ ].

(1) a ruling chief, or, hereditary village-head;

in some praise-names the word also applies to the Ɔba, e.g. in ogie n-ɔny-agbɔ̃ nya‿ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “the rule who possesses world and (possesses) world of the dead”;

ogie n-ɔgbɔʋ̃a ɛdɛ n-uwu‿ix-ɔ̃ʋ̃a (xɔ̃ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ] “the ruler who kills a man on the day when he is not in need of death”.

The following expressions containing ogie have a special meaning: ogie‿iʋi-otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “a ruler cannot sleep on the ground”: a platform for sleeping, made of sticks and planks;

also, a European bed;

v. akpɛkpɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

ogie n-ɛʋ̃ɔ‿ũɽoɣo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “a ruler who has no servants”: act of making an ihoi [ ˩ ˩ ] in the game called isɛ n-ata [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

(2) senior, headman;

ogi-ewaisɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] senior of the ewaisɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] who attend to the Ɔba’s Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ];

he represents the Ɔba at that shrine and acts for him.

(3) main;

chief;

principal, of animals, plants, objects;

ogi-avã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] midday;

ogi-ɛkpɔɣɔe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ] a tree bigger than ɛkpɔɣɔe [ ˩ ˩ \ ];

perhaps identical with uʋi n-Esã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

og-ihuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] a bigger variety of millipede, with a red head;

og-ixiʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] a tree, Kigelia africana;

ogi-ovu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a tree, Antiaris africana;

the bark is used in making a kind of leather bag (ɛkpoki [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ]);

ogi-uro [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] goal;

mainly on the board of the game called isɛ [ ˥ ˩ ], but also in general use.

The following examples do not show tones indicating a genitive relationship as the preceding ones did: ogiasɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] midnight;

ogioha [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “king of the bush”: a name for the leopard;

ogiukpo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] dais (of mud) at the Ɛguae (for the Ɔba) as well as at the Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] house, at those of some big chiefs, and at the shrines of gods;

ogiuzo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] an antelope, a little bigger than uzo [ ˥ ˩ ];

its skin is similar to that of ɛrhuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. egie [ ˩ ˩ ], igie [ ˩ ˩ ], ugie [ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) title of a chief.

(2) a sib headed by the chief Ogi-efa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

the real name of this sib is probably Iso [ ˩ ˩ ].

Its centre is at Benin City, to the left of Ikpoba Road.

The greeting in the morning is la‿ɛso [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

cf. ogie [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

laughter;

ogiɛ rhie ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “laughter takes me”: I must laugh;

cf. giɛ [ ˥ ].

“wild yam” in bush, is not eaten;

v. ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

goodheartedness.

charcoal, used by blacksmiths;

mixed with the leaf of ogbigbo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] applied to walls of houses (v. usie [ ˩ ˥ ]);

cf. giɛ̃ [ / ], ibi [ ˩ ˥ ].

“king of Death”: the personified Death;

he causes thunder as well.

overgrown clearing in the forest indicating site of an old farm;

og-ugbo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] is used with following ukpo [ ˩ ˥ ], e.g. in og-ugbo n-ukpo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] farm of last year;

og-ugbo n-ɛkpia [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ‿ / ] farm of last year but one (ogo alone is used as well).

mantis;

it is said to bring forth “snakes”, i.e. small longish worms that come out of the body of a killed mantis;

therefore it is called ogolo n-ɔbi-ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “mantis that bears snakes”.

male of a-, or ɔsɛlɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

v. adekɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

long monkey-tail;

ogɔl-emɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] tail of monkey (more used than the single ogɔlɔ).

(1) blacksmith, also: ogũ ematɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ];

but ogũ‿ɛ̃ɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] is brass-smith.

(According to more recent information from A., only the i- prefix is used in both these expressions.) Both blacksmiths and brass-smiths are “gangs” of the Ɔba;

the brass-smiths form a separate sib (v. Igũ‿ɛ̃ɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]).

(2) the planet Mars.

(3) ogũ n-amɛ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] a sea-animal (whale, shark?);

breaks canoes with its back, therefore called n-ɔva‿okɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “that breaks canoes”;

cf. Ogũ 2 [ ˩ ˥ ].

the god of iron, smiths, hunters, and warriors;

one of the highest gods in rank;

all the iron is under Ogũ.

His sanctum in the house (every compound has an Ogũ) is composed of pieces of iron, but when a sacrifice is made all iron implements must be taken to the Ogũ.

If one does not sacrifice to it one may wound oneself with a knife or any other iron tool.

A reason for a sacrifice may be the too frequent menstruation of a woman.

The sacrifices consist mainly of dogs, tortoises, and snails, and oil must be used in them;

cf. ogũ 1 [ ˩ ˥ ] and Yor. Ogũ [ ˩ / ];

v. ɛfae [ ˩ \ ].

(1) a house at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ] in which agwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] is held.

(2) occurs in ɔɽuɛriɛ n-oguã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ] eunuch in attendance in the royal harem;

it seems that these eunuchs are victims of accidents during circumcision “due to their having been bewitched.”

a timber tree, Khaya ivorensis, “Ogwango”.

poverty (cannot be used with the verb gbe [ ˥ ]);

v. oʋi [ ˩ ˥ ].

a brown antelope.

fish-basket (trap).

(1) a tree, Detarium senegalense, also called erh-õgwɛga [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ];

the seed is broken in two parts and put on strings (four halves on each string) as an instrument for divining.

There is another tree bearing the name ogwɛg-odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ], “the deaf ogwɛga”, Klainedoxa gabonensis;

its fruit is used as a substitute for the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ] proper, though it is not believed to be as useful for the oracle.

Another substitute is the fruit of the axwɛxwɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] tree.

(2) the method of divination (v. also ominigbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]) in which the seeds of the above-mentioned tree are used.

The instrument of divination consists of four strings each of which contains four halves of the seed.

At one end of each string a small bell (ɛɽoɽo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]) and some cowries are fastened.

The diviner (ɔb-ogwɛga [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ]) seizes one end of each string and throws them with the intention of turning them upside down.

The subsequent arrangement of seeds is then analysed (v. eria [ ˩ ˥ ]) according to a certain code (itie [ ˩ ˥ ]), the criterion being the “open” or “covered” position of the seed-halves.

The analysis is said to proceed at first from the right side to the left, and, after that, in the opposite direction, but as if the arrangement were looked at from the other end of the strings.

The different positions have names, e.g. odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] is a string with the two outer seed-halves showing their inside, and the two inner halves showing their cover.

(Under the headings dealing with these positions, o. will mean “open”, and c. “covered”, as reckoned from the top of the string.) The names of the positions are: odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ], oɣoi [ ˩ ˩ ], oɽuhu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], ɔɣae [ ˩ ˥ ], ogbi [ ˥ ˩ ], ako [ ˩ ˥ ], ose [ ˩ ˥ ], ohũ [ ˩ ˥ ], ɛrhoxwa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], ɛka [ ˩ ˥ ], ɔkã [ ˩ ˩ ], ɔʋa [ ˩ ˩ ], etuɽɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ], ete [ ˩ ˩ ], ɔha [ ˩ ˥ ] and eɣitã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ].

As the relations of two strings to one another are always considered, these names are usually combined, e.g. ɔh-ɔɣae [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (ɔha ＋ ɔɣae).

If both positions are the same, their name is followed by n-abe [ \ ˩ ] “combined”, e.g. ɔkã n-abe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ].

The “code” of this divination gives a fixed sentence for each of these combinations, and the task of the diviner is to explain to his client the meaning of the sentences appropriate to the arrangements of seeds.

As these represent certain typical situations in life, their corresponding names in the code are often used as idiomatic ( “deep”) expressions for these typical situations, v. eh-ɔɣae [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] and ɔkã n-abe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ].

The actual throwing of ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ] is done in the following way: “alligator-pepper” (ɛhĩ-ɛ̃do [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ]) is chewed and spat on the instrument, then the client holds uk-iha [ ˥ \ ˩ ], “the messenger of the oracle”, also called uta [ ˥ ˩ ], in front of his mouth and asks the master of the oracle (ɔka [ ˩ ˥ ]) his question.

The ɔbo then touches all the sixteen seed-halves, saying: w-ɔɽ̃-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ n-ɔxaɽe (wɛ [ ˩ ]) [ / / ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “do you know the word he has said?”, puts uk-iha [ ˥ \ ˩ ] between the strings and throws them so that the ɛɽoɽo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] and the cowries fall at his side.

mango tree and fruit, Irvingia gabonensis;

another sort is ogwi ebo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ].

riot, fighting between people of the same town, or the same family;

also igbĩn-ogwo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) fence.

(2) fenced space, e.g. garden, yard;

ogb-oɽe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “fence of outside”: (a) front part of odĩ [ ˥ ˥ ], the compound wall;

(b) front part of the compound yard;

ogb-oleɣã [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] prison-yard, prison;

cf. Yor. ɔgba [ ˧ ˩ ].

digging-stick for digging yams;

pointed at one end, made of the heavy uxu wood;

also called ogba n-aya kp-ĩnya [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “stick that is taken to dig yams”;

v. asɛgiɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], ubi [ ˩ ˥ ].

the quarter of Benin City in which the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ] is situated;

it is there that the Eɣaɛʋo N-ogbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] are living.

next year;

isɛ l-ogbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] a salutation addressed to the giver of a present at ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]-time (cf. isɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], la [ ˥ ]);

reply by the giver: ogbe magba rɔ [ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ (5-4) ] “(in the) new year we (shall) live together!”

a band of people serving the Ɔba on several occasions: they dance at the coronation-day, beat the drum enwini [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] at ugies [ ˩ ˩ ], and perform ikiewua [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

they have a special quarter at Benin City.

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

house in which a big chief in Benin is buried;

every chief living at the Ogbe [ ˥ ˩ ] quarter must have such a house in oɽe n-ɔxwa [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] lit. “the big town”, i.e. the other part of the town, as only the Ɔba is buried at Ogbe [ ˥ ˩ ].

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (o.o.o.o.);

cf. Yor. ogbe [ ˧ ˩ ].

rapid current of river, brook;

ɛzɛ na lɛ‿ogbigbi [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] this river (or brook) flows rapidly;

idiom.: ogbigbi ɛzɛ lɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˩ / ] “rushing flows the river”: things are coming in plentifully;

cf. gbigbi [ ˩ ˥ ].

a small but noisy bird, the pin-tailed Whydah.

(1) an ignorant man;

ogboi nɔ ʋ-en-ɛzɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] he is ignorant in the lawsuit.

(2) somebody who is uninitiated into the mysteries of a cult.

a tree, Macrolabium macrophyllum;

the wood is used as firewood, the bark (or the juice) as a “medicine” to throw intended evil back on the originator.

(1) share, (2) in a specialized sense: share of anything divided given to the divider as payment for his work;

oɣae d-ɔʋ̃ad-ɔɣɔ‿ɔna xĩ [ ˩ \ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] this is everyone’s share;

cf. ɣae [ / ].

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

(1) fruit of the oxixã [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] tree, Spondias monbin (?).

(2) the tree itself.

prostitution;

cf. ɣɛ [ / ].

flock (of pigs, sheep).

(1) enemy.

(2) euphemism for “myself” “you”, or “he”, when saying unpleasant things.

oɣiã ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ]: iw-oɣiã ʋ̃ɛ tede [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “I say (that) my enemy (I) nearly fell”.

oɣi-ã [ ˥ ˩ / ]: oɣi-ã‿ima [ ˥ ˩ / ˥ / ‿ ˩ ] you are not good (when speaking to a man of equal rank; uma [ / / ‿ ˩ ] would be impolite);

ihɔ̃-ɣ-aw-amu‿oɣi-ã n-odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] I heard it said that you were arrested yesterday;

v. oya [ ˩ ˩ ], ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ].

ram.

ingratitude.

a “holding-up” charm consisting of the real charm pressed down under an abã [ ˥ ˩ ];

it is used to hold up law-suits, to make people fall asleep when the owner of the charm is about to commit a theft, to render motor-cars immovable (said to be practised by Yoruba drivers with an agadagodo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˧ ˧ ], the Yoruba equivalent of oɣodĩ).

a praise-name of Osa;

used as translation of the Christian “Almighty” (Akugbe) Of Yoruba origin?

cf. Ododua [ ˥ / \ ].

yam-beetle;

v. ekpakaɽa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

a tree, Musanga smithii.

the Vulturine Fish-Eagle;

its white feathers are used in ceremonial dress.

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (c.o.o.c.);

of Yor. origin?

hopping on one foot as practised by boys when playing;

used also in a masquerade (Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ]) dance.

a crooked tree put in front of gods’ shrines;

is considered to be a porter (cripple, uke [ ˩ ˩ ]) to the shrine;

it is called oɣoye n-ɛgua-ɛbɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ], “crippled wood of the god’s ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ]”.

Since it has the power to obstruct prayers it is given a slice of kola before a prayer, and a share of a sacrifice.

The F.D. list classes it as a separate species: Parinarium glabrum, but this may refer to one particular oɣoye only, it being taken to be the Bini name for a tree species.

prisoner of war.

bush;

oh-igɛdu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] timber concession;

oh-ɔka [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] maize field.

fear;

ohã-ɽ̃ɛ̃ mu ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “his fear is gripping me”: I am afraid of him;

ɔʋ̃a n-ohã mũ nɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “a man whom fear has gripped he is”: he is a coward.

a very intoxicating drink obtained from the oyo [ ˥ ˥ ] raffia.

native doctor’s pupil (serving and learning at the same time);

v. ɔbo [ ˩ ˥ ].

a tree, Macaranga barteri;

used for firewood only.

hunger, also ohaʋ̃-unu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

ohaʋ̃ɛ gbe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “hunger is killing me”: I am hungry;

ɔy-ohaʋ̃ɛ gbe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “it took hunger killed me”: it made me hungry.

(1) priest (who worships for a community);

oh-ɔ̃sa [ ˩ \ ˩ ] priest of Osa;

oh-ɔ̃kpo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] priest of the year (at Ɔza [ ˥ ˩ ]), who tells the Ɔba in which year the death-rate wlll be normal, and in which especially high.

(2) Christian minister, also ohɛ̃-gbagbɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], oh-ĩyayi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ].

leather.

a tree, Celtis;

two kinds: C. soyauxii and C. zenkeri;

felled by the Binis during harmattan-time by setting fire to its base (erh-ẽrhɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ]).

pod;

ohi-ɛʋɛe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] kola pod;

ohi-ekoko [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ] cocoa pod.

rope used for climbing palm trees;

cf. hĩ [ / ], udĩ [ ˩ ˥ ].

intermediate season, i.e. (1) small dry season, and (2) cooler interval in dry season.

decision in a lawsuit;

v. bu [ / ].

hole, occurs only with gbe [ ˥ ], and in ohi-amɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] rain-filled hole in tree;

birds bathe, and small animals drink water there, and can be caught;

cf. amɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

solitary, used with the verb mu [ ˥ ] only, e.g. of a derelict house;

v. iʋie [ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Dialium guineense;

used as firewood only.

Niger;

idiom.: ya xwi ɛɽ-ohiʋ̃i (ya long) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “take lock its Niger (i.e. big flood)”: finish the long argument at that, or, with this decision;

cf. Ibo osimiri [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

empty;

ihu‿ɔg-ohoɣa ʋ-azɛkpɛe (ho [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ / ] I want an empty bottle afterwards.

lie;

ohoɣe‿ita [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] what I am telling (you) is a lie;

cf. ohoɣoi [ ˩ \ ˩ ], ohoɣa [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ].

a dance performed at second burials and at ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]: it is danced in a revolving circle, the dancers wear only an ebuluku [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] and have bells in their hands.

dew on the grass.

lie;

cf. ohoɣe [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

whole;

intact.

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

name of a tree (Entandrophragma?);

v. igɛdu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (c.o.c.o.);

of Yor. origin?

a tree, Xylopia (?);

very straight and smooth;

wood used in roofing, as rafters and poles.

leader of the “gang” ewua [ ˥ \ ], the people who wake the Ɔba.

anger;

ohu mu ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “anger is catching me”: I am getting angry.

sheep.

cough;

ohuɛ̃ si ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “cough is drawing me”: I must cough;

wamu‿ohuɛ̃ hĩ‿ɛ̃ɽ-ɛko re, n-ɔɣɛya‿e ta re [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “you (pl.) take the cough out of his belly so that he may not take it to repeat it”;

this is said when a man has died from a disease of which coughing was a symptom;

he is then operated on, and a “bag containing a white milky substance” is removed from his body (from near the liver) lest he may suffer from a “cough” during his next reincarnation;

v. eve [ ˩ ˩ ], tɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) hunter.

(2) a sort of wasp which builds on mud-walls (mud-cells);

does not sting.

a tall grass, found e.g. along the Benin roads;

cf. ihũhũ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ].

a big tree, Cylicodiscus gabunensis;

bark used as medicine against abscess.

a kind of ocro;

resembles gum.

When cooked it produces a sticky paste.

turn, esp. in standing as sentry;

oka ʋ̃ɛ ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] this is my turn;

v. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ], ɣae [ / ].

name of a village on the Sakpoba Road.

blame;

blessing and greeting to somebody serving a master: uɣuga mi‿okã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] may you not serve and be blamed!

(scil. undeservedly);

as opposed to the curse: t-uɽaga mi‿okã [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] may you serve and (always) be blamed!

first;

pl. ikaɽo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “the first people”, the ones who came first;

oka‿ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] the first (thing) is this;

eʋ̃i‿okao [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] the first thing;

cf. ke [ ˥ ], aɽo [ ˩ ˩ ], okieke [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

hill;

ok-uwu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “hill of death” (why?);

name of a pond situated in the Ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ];

it contains wells (v. uy-egwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]) providing fresh water for the Ɔba’s people, other water being forbidden to them;

cf. Yor. oke [ ˩ ˩ ].

name of a Bini village.

name of a village situated near Uhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ];

it is famous for its ulɔka [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], corncakes.

false excuses, e.g. to escape punishment;

v. zɛ 1 [ ˥ ], ohoɣe [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

(1) giddiness, dazzle;

okĩ kĩ (or mu [ ˩ ]) ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “giddiness is dazzling me”: I am giddy.

(2) pirouetting continuously, as e.g. in the ohoɣo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] dance;

v. obodo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], gb-okĩ [ ˥ ˩ ], fi okĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

a feat said to be performed at the festival of Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] (at Urhonigbe and Ugo): a man who has a special charm is struck with matchets without a wound being inflicted;

cf. Yor. oki [ ˩ / ].

last;

pl. ikieke [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]: “the last people, the ones who come last”.

ʋ-okieke [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] at last, e.g. in ʋ-okieke ɔkeweri-egbe ɣaxiã [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] at last he went back (ʋ-ok. can also stand at the end of the sentence);

cf. ke [ ˥ ], iyeke [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], okaɽo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

tinea (rashes) on scrotum.

(1) nest;

always with a following genitive as in ok-ahiaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] bird’s nest;

ok-iɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ] ants’ nest;

ok-ahiaʋ̃ɛ ni ye zaɣazaɣa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] that (bird’s) nest, is rough(ly built).

(2) shelter in ok-aɣɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] a shelter made of mats;

ok-enwaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (also e-, only as plural?) shelter of palm branches;

v. eko [ ˩ ˥ ].

mate, companion (very common as a general address to equals);

koyɔ-ko [ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] usual greeting;

something like Hullo, mate!

oko, lare n-aɣaxiã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] mate, (come and) let’s go!

a horn (buffalo-, antelope-, or ivory-horn) used by witch-doctors to call witches when going to give them food.

(1) parcel wrapped in a large leaf, used for certain purposes, e.g. sending kola as a present.

(2) bag, in ok-uʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] salt-bag woven by the Jekri people out of ɛbo [ ˥ ˩ ], a reed.

Salt was formerly sold in these bags.

They are now obsolete.

(1) new-born baby.

(2) prince;

name of sons and grandsons (iwu [ ˩ ˩ ] and eyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]) of Ɔba, Ihama [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], Ezɔmɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], Ɛhiɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] and some chiefs.

(1) mould made of mud where palm kernels are mashed (by treading on them).

(2) canoe;

ok-erhɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “fire-canoe”, steamer;

cf. Yor. ɔkɔ [ ˧ ˩ ].

a tree, Fagara kennedyi.

sea;

cf. Yor. okũ [ ˩ ˧ ], Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ].

a box covered with cloth carried in isotɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. otɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

measuring rope;

cf. Yor. okũ [ ˧ ˩ ].

a method of hair-dressing with women: a high tuft (on the crown of the head) with a knot in the middle;

raised by means of an uke [ ˩ ˥ ];

much worn at ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] time.

okuku‿eha [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] consists of three tufts of hair: one in the middle of the head;

and one on each side.

a disease among fowls, cailed okuku n-ɔgb-ɔxɔxɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “okuku that kills fowls”.

war;

okuegbɔmotɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] “war does not kill the inhabitants”: path only known to inhabitants of a village and used as a means of escape in times of war;

cf. gbe [ ˥ ], ɔm-otɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ];

v. xɔ̃ [ / ].

stone, rock;

okut-osisi [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] flint;

cf. Yor. okuta [ ˩ / ˧ ].

a tree, Markhamia tutea.

(1) dropping of water, or any liquid;

bleeding from the nose;

okp-ivĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] rain-water passing along the stem of the coco-palm;

okpa also applies to the palm leaf tied to the stem at an angle and destined to direct the water into a pot on the earth where it is collected.

This method of collecting rain-water is practised in places where water is scarce, e.g. at Udo [ ˩ ˥ ] and Enyaɛ [ ˩ ˩ ], and the coco-nut palm gives most and the best water;

ya mu‿eʋ̃i da y-okp-ivĩ (da [ / ]) [ / ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] go and take something to direct (scil. the water) to the drain of the coco-palm!

(2) a worm (?) living on trees which occasionally emits some liquid.

way where something is passing: (1) of game;

okp-aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “track of animals”;

okpa na la gbe [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ] this game-track is well frequented (“passed”).

(2) of wind;

okp-ɛhoho [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] a windy spot;

ab-owa na y-okp-ɛhoho [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] this house is built (bɔ [ ˥ ]) on a windy spot (different from okp-ɛhoho [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ], v. okpe [ ˩ ˥ ]).

a tree, Pentaclethra macrophylla;

mortars are made out of the wood.

The F.D. list has, besides, okpaɣ-ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “river-okpaɣa”, Calpocalyx brevibracteatus.

big, large, great;

okp-erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] a big tree;

okp-ɛhoho [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] “great wind”: storm, tornado;

okp-ɛse [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] a big present;

okp-ɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] an important lawsuit matter;

okp-ɛzɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] a big law-suit;

okp-iɣo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] a large amount of money, a heavy fine;

okp-owɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “big foot”: walking with legs wide apart;

swagger;

okp-oxuo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] a “big”, i.e. rich, woman;

okp-ɔta [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “big talk”: boasting, hence: okp-ɔtagb-unu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˨ ] a “big talk kills mouth”: a boaster who does not consider his words;

okp-ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] a “big”, i.e. rich, important, man;

okp-unu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “big mouth” (?);

usually translated by “word of mouth”: an utterance that is not meant seriously, not out of one’s own heart;

also, boasting.

a flute made from a calabash played by villagers at home and when working at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ].

wine-tapper.

a secret ceremony performed every morning and evening at the Ɛgwae [ ˩ ˩ ], about the time of ugi-erh-ɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

in former times every unauthorised witness of it was killed, later heavily fined (v. ulɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]).

(1) man;

okpi-oxuo [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “woman’s man”: henpecked husband.

(2) male;

ɔʋox-õkpia [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] boy.

toad.

dog (male).

ridge-beam of roof.

something like “drumming while others are sleeping”, “troubled sleep on account of dances going on during the night” (occurs in a proverb);

cf. kpe [ / ], ʋiɛ [ / ].

menorrhoea.

uncircumcised man.

prisoner;

cf. la [ ˥ ] (?), eɣã [ ˥ ˩ ];

cf. Yor. ɛlɛnwɔ [ ˧ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) a chief, first in rank at the Uzama [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

(2) a chief of the Ogiaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], living in his quarter.

Of Yoruba origin.

(1) a tree (olika n-erhã [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]);

its bark and roots, when ground and applied to the skin cure era [ ˥ ˥ ] “ganglion”.

(2) a creeper (olika n-iri [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]);

its roots are used in curing a disease called “black-tongue”.

(3) condensed, essential, e.g. in olik-ɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] a word in which the essentials of a situation or opinion are condensed;

essence of a statement as opposed to unnecessary details.

file;

cf. Port. lima.

a kind of red yam;

swells considerably in cooking.

title used in addressing the Ɔba when he wears a certain dress;

from Yor. oriʃa keji [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] “the second god”;

it is doubtful whether the expression is generally used by Bini people.

smartness, swiftness;

ɔʋ̃-olizaizai nɔ-ɣ-okpia na [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / / ˦ ˩ / ˩ ] “a smart man he is, (namely) this man”;

cf. zaizai [ ˩ ˩ ].

a women’s idol at ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], constructed with a living ixiʋ̃i [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] with a heap of mud round the base like the otɔe [ ˩ ˩ ] and inyatɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

it reveals anything forbidden that may happen.

Its priest is the senior wife of the household;

of Yoruba origin?

sewing needle;

cf. la [ ˥ ], odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

door-frame.

“war-lord”, a praise-name for the Ɔba;

cf. Yor. ologũ [ ˧ ˥ ˧ ].

cat;

cf. Yor. ologbo [ ˧ ˥ ˩ ].

Ɔba’s wife;

cf. Yor. olori [ ˧ ˧ ˩ ];

v. unuɣisɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ].

(1) name of the Ethiope River the source of which is near Umutu (Warri Province), and the Benin River.

(2) the sea.

(3) “owner of the sea”;

a god that gives wealth and many children;

has many women as his priests and is much worshipped by women;

cf. Yor. Olokũ [ ˧ ˥ ˧ ];

v. orhue [ ˩ ˩ ].

a snake, mainly of yellow or reddish colour, said to be always accompanied by red ants;

said to be very poisonous, but biting seldom;

its skin is worn as a belt;

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) “headman” of a working gang;

(2) headman of an age group, such as the iɣele [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] or iɽoɣae [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(3) president of a society or “club”;

cf. Yor. formations with ol-.

grind-stone;

cf. Yor. ɔlɔ [ ˧ ˥ ].

only in olɔkɔʋ̃-ɛ̃ho [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] windpipe and olɔkɔʋ̃-ɔ̃(ũ)rhu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ] a big heronlike bird with a long neck;

cf. urhu [ ˩ ˩ ].

policeman;

cf. Yor. ɔlɔkpa [ ˧ ˥ / ].

a whistle;

cf. Yor. fere [ ˩ ˩ ].

(also oligbegbe) goitre.

young one (of animals);

oluku‿esi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] young pigs;

oluku ɛwe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] young goats;

oluku ohuã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] lambs.

a large tree, Cordii millenii;

wood used for planks.

unopened palm branches tied as a fringe over a village-gate or the gate of the shrine of a deity;

renewed at each annual sacrifice and also used as fringes in masquerade-dancers’ dress;

yagb-omɛ re n-atã y-aɽu‿ɛbɔ [ / ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “go and cut omɛ and let us go and spread them (tã [ ˥ ]) over (the) shrine!”

sorrow, affliction, such as expressed by a certain click;

cf. mɛ [ ˥ ].

a kind of white yam;

v. ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

iguana;

unyehɔ ʋ-omiaʋ̃ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˧ (2-1) ˩ ] “you are deaf like the iguana”, i.e. you hear faint sounds, but not loud ones;

cf. ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

class of people who possess no titles;

cf. egie [ ˩ ˩ ].

another expression for ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ] not so much in use;

said to be preferably used by masters (ɔka [ ˩ ˥ ]) of the art of ogwɛga-divination.

a tree, Entandrophragma candollei;

similar to ɛkpiro [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

beginning;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ], hɛ̃ [ / ].

soldier-ant.

a snake believed to have two heads.

(1) somebody or something put on top.

(2) seventh innings at ayo [ ˥ ˩ ] game;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ], nya [ / ].

sketch, pattern.

cold weather;

oni fi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] it is cold;

oni fi (or, bũ) gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] it is very cold;

oni gbe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “cold is killing me”: I am feeling cold.

a headgear of the Ɔba, without fringes, L.R. p. 23;

v. ɛde [ ˥ ˥ ].

gateway, passage of gate;

onurh-oɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] outer compound gate leading to street;

gate in house leading to street;

onurh-iyek-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ] gate leading to the backyard.

a kind of white yam that has many leaves;

v. ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

sun (in the sky);

onw-ota [ ˩ \ ˩ ] evening sun (from the late afternoon);

v. ovɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

cow (special term for the female, while ɛmila [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] is a generic name).

carpenter, nowadays ekabita [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ] is used generally, and onwina denotes the Ɔba’s carpenters only;

it also occurs in the name of the quarter Iduʋ̃-onwina [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] at Benin City;

cf. nwina [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) (wild) bee;

v. uvũ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(2) wax;

v. also ipapa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(3) honey.

toucan.

trouble;

cf. nyaɣã [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) slice;

piece, e.g. of fruit like kola when broken into parts;

onyɔʋ̃-ɔ̃kpa [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] one piece.

(2) (one) side e.g. of the road, or of a piece of cloth.

calabash used for drinking palm wine;

oval iron arrowhead.

stain;

spot.

(1) acquaintances (all the people a man knows);

ɔʋ̃ɔ̃‿ore gbe (ʋ̃ɛ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he has many acquaintances.

(This meaning given by A. was contested by Ed., who wanted to translate “acquaintances” by iho [ ˥ ˩ ] only. He gave the following meaning for ore.) (2) the present generation;

ore na‿iɽu‿eʋ̃i ɛsɛ fo [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ‿ ˩ ] “this generation never does anything well”.

pillar.

bile;

cf. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ].

a shrub;

cf. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ], ema [ ˩ ˩ ].

kola-nut holder;

v. L.R. p. 243.

an old expression for okpɛhoho [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ], efi [ ˩ ˩ ];

not much in use nowadays.

electric eel;

its head is used as a “medicine” in wrestling: makes the wrestler invulnerable and untouchable.

(1) (any) relative-in-law;

(2) both parties of an agreement for taking care of a cow, goat, or fowl, call each other oruaɛ̃;

v. nwaniɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) the living strength of a man;

it is said to sit on ɛkokodu [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] (the heart) during one’s lifetime.

When a man dies, orhiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] flies away and attaches itself to the wall like a flying animal, thus it listens to all that is said about the deceased and to the prayers given for his next life (e.g. when he has been poisoned, that it may not be repeated), and looks at the sacrifices offered, the dances round the ukpafɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] of the room in which the deceased is lying, and the oaths sworn by his wives.

Only when the body is taken to be buried, does the orhiɔ̃ leave the house.

It goes to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] and, together with the man’s ɛhi [ ˩ ˩ ] whom it meets there, it goes to Osa [ ˩ ˩ ] to “render account”.

(These beliefs are said to be no longer strong nowadays.) When a man is ill, witches may come and steal his orhiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

They then transform it at their meeting into an animal which they kill and eat.

The man whose orhiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] has been stolen and killed in this way must die.

He lies on his bed and is delirious ( “talking at random”), the white of his eye appears, etc. A man in this condition can, however, tell the name of the witch when a certain strong charm is applied.

But the orhiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] of such a man is still supposed to go to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], so that the stolen “object” apparently is nothing but the victim’s strength to live;

orhiɔ̃-ɽ̃ɛ̃ rie [ ˩ / ˩ / ] “his strength to live is going away”: he is about to die (o. fo [ \ ] “is finished” is also said).

(2) zest, power to do something;

orhiɔ̃ ni‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] “power escaped (lit. ‘capsized’?) him”: he is tired (also ɛtĩ fu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] “power was finished in him”);

orhiɔ̃-ɽ̃ɛ̃ tĩ fua [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ / ] “his power has flown away”: he has lost heart (when faced with a big task to be done; also orhiɔ̃ ni‿ɛ̃).

(3) soul (in the Christian sense);

ɔmi-orhiɔ̃-ɽ̃ɛ̃ fã ʋ-ob-oɽuxɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] he saved his soul from sin.

(4) Orhiɔ̃ N-ɔhuã-ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] (Bibl.) the Holy Ghost.

laziness;

ɔʋ̃-õrhiɔ̃ni [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] a lazy man;

cf. orhiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ], ni 1 [ ˥ ].

a river, usually called Ossiomo.

insult.

a staff ca. 6 feet high used by old men when walking;

igb-orhoxwa y-ɔɽ-igbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] I hit his leg ( “calf”) with my stick;

v. ukpokpo [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) rainy season.

(2) harvest time;

orha‿aye na, inya‿iɣiɣã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ / ‿ ˩ ] we are in the harvest time now, yams are not dear.

(3) new (of field fruits);

cf. rhɔ [ / ].

(1) star;

orhɔʋ̃ɛ n-uxuʋ̃u [ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] star of the sky;

ubaʋ̃-orhɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (3-1) ˩ ] light of stars.

(2) a big brown beetle flying at night;

has a black head with white markings;

it is believed to be a fallen star expelled from the sky.

the Grey-breasted Helmet-Guinea-Fowl (or Bush-Fowl);

orhɔʋ̃ɛ n-ɔkpɔlɔ [ ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] a big guinea-fowl.

a musical instrument, probably some kind of horn, with a big mouth;

bass;

v. kpe [ / ].

an ugie [ ˩ ˩ ] at which those dead people who had no children, or whose children are still too young, are “given food”, i.e. a sacrifice, by the Ɔba.

The food has been prepared by the Ɔba’s mother (Iyɔba [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]), and after the sacrifice everybody comes to eat from the food.

The igbãniherhã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] perform their feat at this ugie.

It takes place when everybody has finished ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ], the annual ancestral sacrifice.

a village on the Bini-Ɔra boundary, near the source of the river Orhiɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

chalk found at the river side;

symbol of luck;

also symbol of the Ɔba in the following idioms: orhue bũɽ̃ũ [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] “the chalk is broken”: the Ɔba is dead (used at the official announcement of his death by the Iyasɛ, three years after the actual death; wu may not be used);

otɔ ri‿orhue [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “the earth has eaten chalk”: the Ɔba has been buried (after three years).

At every god’s shrine there is chalk to be found, and it is widely used for making marks on face, chest, and arms as a sign of luck, as well as for “rubbing” shrines of gods, and for drawing patterns on every shrine before sacrificing (wuo [ / ], wu-orhue [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]).

Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ], the god of the sea and of wealth, is supposed to have brought it.

The Ɔba is believed to eat chalk.

Chalk is used in sacrifices and at burials.

guest;

“stranger in the house”.

(also oɽeɽe) (1) town;

oɽ-ɛdo [ ˥ \ ˥ ] or [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] Benin City;

oɽ-ogiso [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “town of Ogiso [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ]”: bright side of a cloud (small children are told that Ogiso’s town is of a similar beauty);

oɽ-egwi [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “town of tortoise”: dark and ragged side of cloud (told to small children, probably because it is rough like the shell of a tortoise).

(2) street.

(3) outside (the house).

a certain animal, roots corn out a few days after it is sown;

it is believed to pray to God by standing on its hind legs and rubbing its fore-legs;

a hunter shooting at it at this moment is supposed to miss it.

corncake (usually wrapped in a big leaf);

oɽi‿olɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] a ball of mud with a hole at the top representing a servant of Ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], the god of palm kernels and divination.

a shrub, “bitter-leaf”, Vernonia amygdalina;

leaf used in a soup, v. unwɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

oɽiw-eni [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] (eni [ ˩ ˥ ] “elephant”) a tree, Vernonia conferta;

bark used in the preparation of a soup;

v. unwɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a coral bead hat, pointed in the middle, worn by the Ɔba and Ezɔmɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

some other chiefs (Osuã [ ˥ ˩ ] and Ɔsa [ ˥ ˩ ]) substitute a woven hat (from the uɽua [ ˩ ˩ ] palm) for it;

the latter wear the oɽo every time they go to the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ].

secret practices (referring e.g. to such practices in witchcraft, the worship of gods, ugie [ ˩ ˩ ], and to the “bull-roaring” as practised by the Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ]-society);

cf. Yor. oro [ ˧ ˩ ].

hippopotamus (more used than eni amɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

cf. Jekri otobo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

muddy pools, mud on the road, “potto-potto”;

oɽoɣo r-odɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] the road is muddy;

cf. ɽoɣo [ ˩ ˥ ].

idleness (only as a genitive following ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ]).

finger-ring (formerly made of brass, bone, kernel (?), iron and lead; now mostly of silver);

cf. Yor. oruka [ ˩ ˩ / ].

horse- or cow-tail;

handle sewn with leather;

as emblem of Ifa priests (ɔb-ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ]);

v. iyɔyɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(also oɽuɽu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]) thread;

oɽu na ye tiɣitiɣi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] this thread is twisted;

cotton;

oɽuɽu‿ebo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] a kind of shrub used to demarcate boundaries;

oɽuɽu‿ɔxa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] seed of the cotton tree.

a larva that lives in the tapping-cut of palm trees (udĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] or ɔgɔ [ ˩ ˩ ]).

a stone (?) found in the stomach, mainly of cows, formed by their food;

this is believed to enable cows to eat anything, and is accordingly used as an antidote to poison.

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (o.o.c.c.);

of Yor. origin?

wrongdoing, wickedness;

cf. ɽu [ ˥ ], xɔ [ / ].

a creeper, similar to eb-ɔdɔ̃dɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ]: probably Vitex cienkowskii.

corpse;

cf. ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

v. ikũ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a tree, Anthocleista;

has very broad leaves;

cf. oɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] (?).

married state;

cf. ɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

avocado-pear, Pachylobus edulis;

another sort (list of Forestry Dept.): oɽ̃uʋ̃-ɛzɛ [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] “river-pear” Pachylobus barteri;

yet another sort is: oɽ̃uʋ̃-ũxioxio [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ].

debt;

v. ɽu [ ˥ ], ɽe 1 [ ˥ ], ʋ̃ɛ [ / ].

(1) the Bini high god, creator of the world;

his worship seems to have developed mostly since the times of the Ɔba Ɛsigie [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ];

he has shrines and priests in Benin City only;

the cult was stated to be a later outcome of the early Portugese missionary activity developed after the departure of the European missionaries.

The cross plays a rôle in the cult: the Osa [ ˩ ˩ ] shrine at Akpakpava [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] street contains a cross and a kind of rosary, the state sword of the Ɔba (ada [ ˥ ˥ ]) that is used when he goes to aɽ-osa [ ˩ \ ˩ ], the Osa shrine, was said to bear a cross, and the badges worn by participants in the new yam fast (agwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ]) which are distributed to them by the oh-ɔ̃sa [ ˩ \ ˩ ], the Osa priest, are in the shape of a cross.

The three shrines in Benin City were said to stand on the sites of early Portuguese chapels.

Osa is often called Osanobua [ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ], Erhaʋ̃osa [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ], “godfather”, and has also the names Oɣodua [ ˥ ˩ \ ], Ododua [ ˥ / \ ] (?), Udazi [ ˥ / ˩ ], and Itɛbitɛ [ ˩ ˥ \ ˥ ], which have been taken over by Christian translators.

Many names containing the word Osa [ ˩ ˩ ] seem to be used by Christians and pagans alike, e.g. Osagi-agbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “god sent to the world”;

viz. me;

Osayiʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˥ ˦ ] “god created me”;

Osaɽ̃ɛ̃-xɔe [ ˩ / / ˩ ] “God knows the mind”;

Igbĩn-osa [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “I shelter with God”.

These names are now the only ones used by Christians.

A sign representing Osa [ ˩ ˩ ] is the Osagbaye [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ], a white cloth on a “bamboo” pole in the compound;

not everyone has it.

The meaning of Osagbaye is doubtful.

(2) God in the Christian sense;

cf. Yor. oriʃa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (an old form of Osa is Oisa, Oɽisa).

beauty;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ].

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination (o.c.o.c.);

of Yor. origin?

support, backing up (in a fight, or in any trouble);

ɔsiʋ̃i‿oseɣe nɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] he backed him up.

rope or tree put up horizontally seven or eight feet high as a rack for drying corn;

also osel-ɔka [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “corn-osele”.

witness;

v. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

act of bowing and greeting with folded hands as sign of acknowledgment to a skilled dancer after his performance.

round part of a log cut off in the process of squaring it, “score” (expression used in timber work);

cf. Engl. score;

igbosiko [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

gun;

osisi n-agbeva [ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] double barrelled gun;

cf. Ibo osisi [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “tree, stick”.

a tree, Baphia pudescens.

lump;

a whole piece;

os-orhue [ ˩ \ ˩ ] lump of chalk;

osu‿inya [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] a (whole) yam;

osu‿ɔka [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] a (whole) cob of corn (maize);

v. osɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] (a piece, but not one whole).

a chief, representative of the Ɔba’s dead father who, as such, gives the Ɔba advice, esp. about the treatment of his wives who may lay complaints before him.

He is a member of the Ibiwe [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-society.

The Ɔba must give him everything he wants, but at his death his property goes to the Ɔba.

Formerly he was elected by the oracle, nowadays it is a question of money.

Of Yoruba origin;

a title in Lagos being Oʃodĩ [ ˧ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) name of a river near Uhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

(2) name of a Bini deity (an ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ]).

the biggest kind of hedgehog or porcupine.

a piece of something (but not one whole);

osɔʋ̃-ũkpɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] a rag (of cloth);

osɔʋ̃-ĩnya [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] a piece of yam (cut off).

the power active in leaves and herbs, i.e. in medicines and charms.

The Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] doctors are considered to be very good at curing (and inflicting) diseases and at playing magic tricks.

They are even said to have healed some lepers.

Every household also has its own Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] shrine;

v. ikũ [ ˩ \ ], ɔwaisɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ewawa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

title of a chief, priest of a royal god (either Unwɛ [ ˥ ˥ ] or Ɔɽa [ ˥ ˩ ]);

he had to eat human flesh in the old days;

v. Ɔsa [ ˥ ˩ ].

uncisors;

cf. akɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

round loaf of yam-fufu;

used by the Ɔba’s family as well as the Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] and many other families when sacrificing to their ɛhi [ ˩ ˩ ] and ancestors;

also called osugb-ema [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ].

trouble, worry, caused e.g. by magic or by intrigues.

a chief, fourth in rank of the Eɣaɛʋo N-ogbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

fabulous shining stone said to be spit out at night time by pythons and vipers in order to attract animals by its light.

It is believed to multiply the power of charms;

cf. Yor. oʃumare [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Kigelia africana (?);

farmers obtain from it a charm which promotes the growth of yams;

cf. fɔ [ / ].

(preceded by ʋ-) at once;

immediately;

mostly used of knocking down in a wrestling match, or of drinking;

ɣɛd-ehia ʋ-osuɽu (da [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] do not drink all at once!

ɔma-ɽ̃ɛ̃ osuɽu (ma [ / ]) [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] he knocked him down in a moment.

pointed hair-tuft (with a round base) worn by commoners serving the Ɔba.

If not done correctly, it is called akegbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (e.g. if beginning too high on the head and providing too small a circle as base);

v. ugw-akpata [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

evening;

ota n-ɛɽɛ ɣade [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ / ] come tonight!

leprosy;

oti n-uʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] “salt-leprosy”: “melts like salt”;

attacks nose, fingers, and toes;

incurable;

exudes liquid matter.

a fruit tree, Chrysophyllum albidum.

The F.D. list also knows otiɛ̃ ogi-oriɔ “otiɛ̃ of the chief of Oriɔ” as Ochrocarpus africanus which was not known as a special tree by the informant;

there are many otiɛ̃ at Oriɔ.

The meaning of otiɛ̃ waɽe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (F.D. List: Ochrocarpus africanus) could only be: “are you eating otiɛ̃?” It does not seem to be a special name or sort of otiɛ̃.

otĩ-emɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] “monkey-otiɛ̃”: a tree, Panda oleosa.

an idiomatic expression for ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. tiɣi [ ˩ ˥ ].

fame;

cf. titi [ ˩ ˥ ].

trap;

catches animals by their feet.

diarrhoea;

curse: otoɽ-ɔgb-uɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ‿ \ ] may diarrhoea kill you!

collective name for the things carried in a procession taking place at the second burial (v. isotɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]);

they consist of (1) a box (okũ [ ˩ ˥ ]) with its lid open, but tightly covered with white cloth so that no opening is visible;

brass figures of animals (e.g. tortoise, leopard, frog, fowl, fish, snake) are tied to the cloth;

on the top of okũ a brass leaf in the shape of a feather, about a foot long, is fastened, as well as brass, wooden and ivory figures e.g. of human beings;

(2) a cow or goat, yams, a calabash of oil, a mat, a salt-bag (ɛkp-uʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˥ (3-1) ]), given by the sons of the deceased to their sib (ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ]);

v. ako [ ˩ ˥ ].

cf. otɔe [ ˩ ˩ ];

this form is used after some verbs to indicate a downward motion, e.g. in gb-otɔ (gbe 1 [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ], s-otɔ (sɛ 1 [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ], and mi-otɔ (miɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ];

idiom.: s-otɔ s-uxuʋ̃u [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “reach ground reach above”: all over;

ɔm-ukpɔ̃ gu-egbe s-otɔ s-uxuʋ̃u (gue [ / ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] he covered himself all over with a cloth (when going to sleep).

Redupl. ototɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] means (a) bottom of a vessel: otot-ukpu [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] the bottom of the glass (inside);

(b) dregs: otot-anyɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] the dregs of palm-wine;

(c) under: otot-erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] under the tree.

If motion is implied instead of rest, ototɔ is used with the verbs yi [ ˥ ] or rie [ / ], yo [ ˥ ]: gi-a tota y-otot-erhã na [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ] let us sit down under this tree!

iɽ̃ã gwa ri-otot-ɛzɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] they are pulling (rowing) down stream;

iɽ̃ã gwa y-otot-ɛzɛ (yo) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] they have rowed downstream (and are back again).

(1) earth;

ground;

soil;

ot-iku [ ˩ \ ˩ ] spot on which refuse is thrown;

dust heap.

(2) the Ground, Earth, as a deity.

If all the gods are against a man, except the Earth, he “will not quickly die”.

Its shrine is the inyatɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

When a suicide has taken place the “owners of the ground”, i.e. the ancient owners of the ground on which the village is built, must be called for pacification.

A payment is made to them for the sacrifice, whereupon everybody must go inside his house, and they perform the sacrifice, accompanied by ɛmil-ɔvia [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] (bull-roaring).

After the sacrifice, the rope is cut and the corpse buried.

(Suicides are supposed to go to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃-ĩmawu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] or iduʋ̃-ĩmawu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “the Underworld, or quarter, of the suicides”, where they are said to be kept in chains.) (3) bottom (e.g. of a vessel);

idiom.: otɔ-ibiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “the bottom of the entrails”: the bottom of one’s heart (as opposed to okp-unu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “by word of mouth”: not quite sincerely);

iwahu‿ɛʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ s-otɔ-ibiɛ (sɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] I like him thoroughly (not partially), from the bottom of my heart.

(4) floor (of a room, in comparison with ukpo [ ˥ ˩ ], the mud-niches) in otɔ-wa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

v. ikpawɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (in general use, but mainly used of the floor round the ukpafɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] in the ikũ’s [ ˩ \ ]).

(5) reason (for something);

otɔ-ɽe ʋo n-unaxa ʋ-eriɔ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] lit. “what is its reason that you say so?” otɔ-ɽe n-iɽ̃ã naɽu‿ɛe eɽ-ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “the reason of it that they did it, is this”: is why they did it;

cf. otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Cleistopholis partens.

(1) age-group, generation;

v. eʋ̃i [ ˩ \ ], iɽoɣae [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ɛɣele [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], ediɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(2) everybody who is about three years older or younger than any individual, is considered as being of his otu, bodily strength being the deciding factor;

this not institutionalized idea of otu prevails in apportioning communal tasks to groups of men, in selecting partners for wrestling matches, etc. (3) working-gang, v. olotu [ ˥ \ ˩ ];

cf. Ibo, Jekri otu [ ˩ ˩ ].

a small tree, Baphia nitida;

used in purification ceremonies;

seven leaves of it pinned together are also used as substitute of one’s Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] shrine on travels.

salutation;

otu-owiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] morning salutation (i.e. the general term, not a formula);

cf. tuɛ [ ˥ ].

a tree, Trichilia heudelotii.

The F.D. list has ogi-ovalɔ.

sunshine;

ovɛ̃ de ɽo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “sun has fallen hidden itself”: the sun has hidden behind the clouds;

ovɛ̃ nya re [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] the sun han risen;

v. onwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

grumbling;

cf. viã [ / ].

name of the Ɔba who reigned until the Expedition in 1897.

spleen;

v. ude [ ˥ ˩ ].

a hard swelling found e.g. in cases of oʋ-iy-abɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

thirst;

oʋamɛ gbe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] I am thirsty.

sleep;

cf. ʋiɛ [ / ].

trunk (of elephant);

oʋ-eni [ ˥ \ ˥ ] elephant’s trunk;

cf. Jekri owere [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

wooden spade;

rhi-oʋɛʋɛ re n-aya z-ekɛ̃ na (zɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] “bring a spade come that we may take (it) to collect this mud” (for house-building).

centipede;

has a forked tail;

its sting is very painful.

a timber tree, Triplochiton scleroxylon;

grows quickly;

its light wood is used for packing-cases and ceiling-board;

“obeke” “white-wood”.

(1) child (used with genitives and pronouns);

oʋi ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] my child;

oʋi‿erha [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] brother (or sister) by the same father;

oʋ-iye [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] brother (or sister) by the same mother;

oʋi‿erh-oʋ-iye [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] brother (or sister) by the same father and mother;

oʋi‿ogie [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a ruler’s child;

oʋi ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] “son of a person”: a freeborn man.

(2) young of an animal;

oʋi‿ɛmila [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] calf;

oʋi‿ɔxɔxɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] chicken.

(3) young plant;

oʋi‿erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] young sapling (also shrub).

(4) member of tribe or group within the society;

oʋi‿aleke [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] unmarried girl of marriageable age.

oʋi‿ɛdo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] Bini man.

iʋi‿ore, [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] pl., young generation (up to about thirty years of age).

oʋi‿otu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] member of a band, or society;

pl. iʋi‿otu also denotes servants living outside the house (where they are serving), so that e.g. iʋi‿otu erhã ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] usually means “the servants of my father”.

(5) men of a certain social status or calling.

oʋ-iyokuo [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] “son of campaign”: warrior;

hence: oʋ-iyoku-Ekristi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “warrior of Christ”, and oʋ-iyoku-Osa-lobua [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] “warrior of God”: member of the Salvation Army.

(These terms stand for the organisation when in the plural.) oʋi‿ogue [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] (a) “son of poverty”: a poor man, (b) “poverty”, in oʋi‿ogue ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “my poverty”.

(6) small, short, in oʋi‿abɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] pen-knife (but oʋ-iy-abɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “brother of knife”: muscle abscess or filaria);

oʋi‿axe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] a small pot;

oʋi‿ɛho [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] a “small voice” like that of a girl (more rarely oʋi‿urhu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

oʋi‿ɛgbo xerhe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] a short way (“space”);

oʋi‿ɛdɛ xerhe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˧ ] a short time.

(7) special expressions: oʋi‿akota [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] dog, v. ekita [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ], awa [ ˩ ˥ ];

oʋi‿alumɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a small bird with a little red on its tail;

larger than asɛsɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

oʋi‿aɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] pupil of the eye;

oʋi‿aɽaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] uvula;

oʋi‿ax-owɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] “little pot (i.e. bulge) of foot”: (pl.) iʋi‿awa n-eha [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] “the three young dogs”: the belt of Orion (N.W.Th.);

oʋ-iwu [ ˩ \ ˩ ] one of the tribal marks, stretching on the left side from under the mastix across the ribs to beneath the navel;

not marked in the Ɔba’s family;

oʋi‿odo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “son of mortar”: pestle;

oʋi‿ogie kuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / / ] “the son of a ruler does not set fire” because its use as firewood is taboo to all descendants of ogies;

a tree;

Maesopsis eminnii;

its wood burns very badly and in a concealed way;

a purgative is obtained from the bark;

oʋi‿ogierhaʋ̃otɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “a ruler’s son does not touch the ground”;

iʋi‿onudo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (pl.) tribal marks on the cheeks: ovals standing upright, not very long;

iʋi‿ovɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (pl.) “sons of the sun”: small butterflies flying in swarms, mostly of one colour only;

oʋi‿ududu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] a ball kept by ghosts in the palm of the hand;

whatever it touches dies before daybreak;

oʋi‿ukwoki‿uguawɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] kneecap;

oʋi‿ukpɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a substitute for a loin-cloth (ebuluku [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] or abaʋ̃ute [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ]), tied with a strip of cloth serving as belt (ɔza [ ˩ ˥ ]);

also shawl covering shoulders;

oʋi‿uɽ̃uʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] implement in the shape of a “dumb-bell”, used in grinding pepper on uro [ ˩ ˩ ];

cf. Iʋi‿eze [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ];

v. ɔmɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a timber tree, Sarcocephalus esculentus;

though a deciduous tree, it is never quite leafless.

idiomatic for arhuaɽo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “blind man”.

a snake, “black mamba”;

spits;

poisonous;

believed to crow like a cock;

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. Jekri obibi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

he-goat;

cf. Yor. obukɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˧ ].

measuring implement (rope, tape, etc.);

oʋ̃a na matã sɛ [ ˩ ˥ / ˥ ˥ \ ] this measure is not long enough;

cf. ʋ̃a [ / ].

a small tree, Combretum platypterum.

market-stall (a palm- or bamboo-shed).

a house;

a roofed place;

ow-amɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] water-tank;

ow-ebe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “book-house”: school;

ow-egbagbɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “faith-house”: church (also ow-iyayi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ], v. ɛsɔsi [ ˩ \ ˩ ]);

ow-ehe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] room in which women live secluded during menstruation (at od-ɛriɛ);

ow-ekɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] house built of mud;

ow-ɛbɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “god’s house”: house containing the shrine of a god;

temple (ow-ihɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] is not used);

ow-ɛgbima [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] house built of cane and plastered over with mud (Jekri type);

ow-ɛki [ ˩ \ ˩ ] shop (v. esabu [ ˩ \ ˩ ], owa [ ˥ ˥ ]);

ow-ɛzɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] Native Court building;

ow-iku [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “(roofed) dustbin”, v. ot-iku [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “a place where refuse is thrown”;

ow-isã [ ˩ \ ˩ ] latrine, better egb-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

ow-iwowo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] shack built of planks.

old age;

only in a song: uɣari‿ɔba, uɣuri‿oweɽe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “when you reign as Ɔba, you must attain (eat) old age” and in ɔdiɔ̃weɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ].

a tree, Combretodendron africanum.

(1) foot, leg.

(2) trace;

ɣ-owɛ n-esi ya l-eʋ̃a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ˩ \ ] “look at the trace that the (bush-) pig took to pass here”.

(3) wheel;

ow-ikɛkɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] bicycle-wheel.

broom, sweeping brush;

cf. Yor. ɔwɔ [ ˧ ˩ ].

a tree, Buchholzia;

its fruit is eatable (looks like cooked liver).

morning;

owiɛ ʋiɽiʋiɽi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (or ʋiiʋii [ ˩ ˩ ]) early morning when the mist still obstructs the wide view, at about 5 o’clock to 5.30;

owiɛwiɛ ʋ̃-ɔ̃kpa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ] some time after the preceding, at about 6 o’clock.

Redupl. owi-owiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] every morning.

one (in counting).

a soup prepared with pepper ground on uro [ ˩ ˩ ], crawfish (ize n-ɔfua [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], also ground on uro), and potash (odo [ ˥ ˩ ], also ground) mixed in oil (ɛʋi [ ˩ \ ]).

Boiling water is poured over it, whereupon it is left to thicken (ki [ / ]).

Poor people use eʋ-axuɛ [ ˩ / / ] instead of odo.

noise of a crowd;

cf. woɣo [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) heat.

(2) quick temper;

ɔʋ̃-owowo [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] a fiery, quick tempered man, v. ibalegbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(3) inflammation of the lining of the uterus (endometritis).

eleven.

(1) story;

gi-ado xaa-xa (for xa‿oxa) [ ˩ / / ˩ ˥ ] let us (come and) tell a story!

(2) calling game by imitating noises, e.g. by pressing one’s fingers to the nostrils, as done by hunters;

cf. xa [ / ], kp-oxa [ ˩ ˥ ].

a big round drum kept at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ], about 5 feet high;

used to summon people to some of the ugie [ ˩ ˩ ] ceremonies;

v. kpe 1 [ / ].

a rat with pointed snout;

has an unpleasant smell;

on account of its smell it is called oxã n-aʋ̃-ɛ̃ɽ̃iʋ̃i (aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “oxã, wife of the dead”;

it cries fiɛ̃fiɛ̃fiɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

circle;

circles are e.g. made on the ground when somebody is about to purify himself after some breach of taboo, v. ihɔʋ̃egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

oxi‿uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] is the part of the skull on which hair is left when the crown of the head is bald.

Redupl. oxioxi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] round.

walk;

oxiã wɔ ʋ̃-egbe [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] walking has tired me, I am very tired;

also egb-oxiã wɔ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ‿ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. xiã [ ˥ ].

(1) “walker”: driver-ant, similar to asaʋ̃otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], possibly identical.

(2) oxĩ-ãsɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “night-walkers”: a “gang” of people who in former times roamed through the streets of Benin City and Use [ ˩ ˩ ], killing everybody they met.

The heads of the victims were taken to a shrine at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ], and whoever killed fourteen people in the course of one night, was made a chief.

They were elected by the Eɣaɛʋo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] from the quarter Iduʋ̃-ihogbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], the Ogbelaka [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] people, the Isiɛ̃ʋ̃ɛɽo-people and from Use [ ˩ ˩ ];

cf. xiã [ ˥ ].

(1) the part near the edge of a flat object, e.g. a table, v. igɛ̃gɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

ɣɛsi-ɛe k-ɔxi-ɔɽe n-ɔɣɛde (sikɛ [ ˥ / ]) [ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] don’t pull it to the edge of the table in case it falls.

(2) something that fills a hole;

oxi-ɔgɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] cork;

rhi-oxiɛ gũ ʋ̃ɛ ya xi-ɔgɔ na [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “give me a cork to (take) and cork (xiɔ [ / ]) this bottle!” oxi-ɛwu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] button;

oxi-ɛwu ʋ̃ɛ fiã fua [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] my button came off;

cf. xiɔ [ / ].

the tree which bears oɣeɣe [ ˥ / ˩ ];

also called erh-õɣeɣe [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] and even simply oɣeɣe which, however, is rightly the name of the fruit;

very hardy;

used for utɔ̃yotɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] hedges (serving as poles for eru [ ˩ ˥ ]).

farm-hut made of sticks and thatched with palm leaves.

a women’s style of hair-dressing, worn, like okuku [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], at ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] time;

the hair is heightened with uke [ ˩ ˥ ] and drawn together over the forehead where it is knotted;

v. uɽo [ ˥ ˥ ], eto [ ˩ ˥ ].

striking with one or two knuckles;

v. gbe [ ˥ ];

so [ ˥ ].

continuous quarrelling or enmity;

cf. xɔ̃ [ / ].

a tree, Ricinodendron africanum.

a cloth woven from the fibres of raffia leaves.

woman;

ixu-ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “women of the harem”, e.g. an address in the greeting wado‿ixu-ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ] salute, you women of the harem!

Outside the Ɛriɛ, this term would, however, refer to the Ɔba’s wives, v. oloi [ ˥ ˥ ];

oxu-ɔdiɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] senior wife of a polygamous household;

oxu-ohaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] pregnant woman;

v. ɛkponiyɛkɛ [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ].

prescribed individual portion of any common task.

name of a deep river near ɛki‿adɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

its praise-name is oxuo n-iy-ɔmɔ [ ˩ \ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “Oxuo, the mother of children”.

(1) name of a river, near Ɛbue [ ˩ ˩ ].

(2) name of a Bini deity (an ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ]).

haphazardly;

at random (of people snatching things in a hurry, e.g. when cutting up a killed elephant);

cf. xurhuxurhu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Homalium macroptera;

bark used for soup for women after delivery.

basket;

oxwa-ɔlema [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “cook’s basket”: a basket in which the ingredients for soups are kept on the fireplace;

cf. le [ ˥ ], ema [ ˩ ˩ ].

harmattan.

(1) a creeper.

(2) fruit of this creeper, a kind of nut which is eaten with corn (maize).

insult;

disgrace;

oya gb-oɣiã ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “an insult has killed (touched) my enemy”: I have been insulted, or, met with disgrace;

v. oɣiã [ ˥ ˩ ], ahĩaʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ].

name of a sib;

its hereditary head is chief Ezima [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] of Uhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] which is also the centre of the sib;

its greeting in the morning is la-yeɽu [ ˥ / ˥ ].

thief, robber.

exclamation of annoyance, damn!

comb;

oyiy-erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] wooden comb;

cf. Yor. ooya [ ˩ ˩ ].

a kind of raffia ( “bamboo”), not common;

produces a very intoxicating wine.

hunting-camp, with a temporary shed;

cf. yo 1 [ ˥ ], ʋiɛ [ / ];

v. akpɛkpɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], eko [ ˩ ˥ ], agɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

lead (metal);

cf. Yor. oje [ ˩ / ].

crab.

a strong wind, good for farm-burning;

ozi la [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] a strong wind is blowing;

idiom.: ozi l-uxuʋ̃u rie [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “ozi has passed above and gone away”, i.e. has not had any effect: an impending punishment has not been carried out;

ozi o [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] an exclamation during farm-burning, when a wind is blowing;

to urge wind and fire on;

cf. Yor. oji [ ˩ ˩ ].

lizard.

a tree, Daniellia thurifera;

exudes a gum that is used as a candle, mainly by hunters on their travels;

when heated it is adhesive;

cf Yor. ojia [ ˩ / ].

a curly-haired dog.

another expression for oloi [ ˥ ˥ ];

cf. ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ].